Roller pressure high intensity quench systems



Jan. 7, 1969 F. c. SAFFORD ETAL 3,420,083

RQLLER PRESSURE HIGH INTENSITY QUENCH SYSTEMS Original Filed Jan. 16. 1966 Fig.

Frunklm C Safford Robert A. McGroth Edgar Lloyd Loveless United States Patent 3,420,083 ROLLER PRESSURE HIGH INTENSITY QUENCH SYSTEMS Franklin C. Salford, Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pa., Robert A. McGrath, Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pa., and Edgar Lloyd Loveless, Rockledge, Pa., assignors to Drever Company, Bethayres, Pa. Continuation of application Ser. No. 520,493, Jan. 13, 1966. This application Dec. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 689,205 U.S. 'Cl. 72201 11 Claims Int. Cl. B21b 27/10 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for quenching a heated metal plate which has an upper and lower roller bed to support and restrain the plate. As the plate is moved through the apparatus, a curtain of quench fluid impinges the surfaces of the plate at an angle to prevent quench fluid from reaching a part of the metal plate which has not advanced to the point of impingement. Tired rolls permit the quench fluid to follow the plate after impingement on the plate.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 520,493, filed Jan. 13, 1966, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a roller pressure high intensity quench system for quench reducing the temperature of metal plate to provideit with selected properties. More particularly, this invention pertains to an apparatus in which directly opposed tired rollers engage plate at a temperature above the critical transformation temperature and in which the metal plate moves along a predetermined path and is initially impinged angularly with a curtain of quench fluid on the top and bottom surfaces.

Our roller pressure quench system disclosed in our United States patent application Ser. No. 370,554 now abandoned is ideal for quench hardening of such metals as stainless steel and high or low alloy steel, but does not give the desired properties when used on metal plate requiring an extremely severe quench or plate of low hardenability. The disadvantages are: (i) that the quench apparatus causes nonuniform hardness directly related to the areas of initial impingement of the quenching fluid on the plate; and (ii) when passing plate continuously through the quench sprays the nonuniformity of hardness takes the form of stripes which are clearly visible.

The present invention is designed to be used in connection with the invention disclosed in our application Ser. No. 370,554. The present invention produces a high intensity continuous quench system. A high velocity curtain of water or other suitable quench fluid strikes the Work at an angle. This prevents the quenching fluid from reaching a part of the metal plate which has not advanced to the point where the high velocity curtain of quench fluid strikes the plate. The angle also assists in forcing the quench fluid down the line through a plurality of staggered tired rolls used to restrain the metal plate while it is subjected to a severe quench. A subsequent spray pipe discharges quench fluid uniformity covering the area between two tired restraining rolls on both the top and bottom of the plate. The fluid also impinges the plate proximately where the plate leaves the tired rolls whereby any d-ry spots caused by an interruption of the flow of quenching fluid along the plate surface are substantially eliminated.

We provide an apparatus for a continuous high intensity uniform quench of a metal plate which comprises, means supporting and restraining the metal plate, forcing it to lie in a plane and moving it from a point of entry of the apparatus to an exit of the apparatus, a pair of high intensity spray pipes positioned within the means 3,420,083 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 paratus and curves toward the opposite spray pipe, each curved deflector is positioned so that its free end is directed toward the other deflector and toward the exit end of the apparatus allowing space between the free end of each deflector to permit the metal plate to pass freely through, means supplying a quenching fluid under pressure to each spray pipe, the fluid leaves the holes and strikes the deflector which causes a high velocity curtain of liquid to impinge on the metal plate at an angle preventing any splash back in the opposite direction from which the metal plate is entering the apparatus, the fluid is directed along the metal plate toward the exit end of the apparatus.

We provide means supporting and restraining the metal plate and forcing the plate to lie in a plane in an entry zone of the apparatus, a plurality of upper restraining tired rolls spaced apart in a planar parallel relationship following the means supporting, a plurality of lower'restraining tired rolls spaced apart in a planar parallel relationship and having their tires and longitudinal axes aligned beneath the opposed upper restraining tired rolls following the means supporting whereby the metal plate passing between and in contact with the upper and lower restraining tired rolls is forced to lie in a plane. We provide that the tires of the lower restraining rolls are staggered with respect to each other and the tires of the upper restraining tired rolls are staggered with respect to each other. We preferably provide that the upper and lower high intensity spray pipes are positioned between the means supporting and restraining and the first pair of tired restraining rolls. We provide additional upper and lower spray pipes positioned within the first space between the upper and lower restraining rolls.

Wepreferably provide that the curved deflector is positioned and shaped so that the quench curtain strikes the metal plate at an angle between 10 and 40 and impinges on the metal plate at a minimum distance from the means supporting and restraining so as to maximize the distance from the point of quench impingement to the first restraining tired rolls.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description of a present preferred embodiment and a present preferred method of practicing the same.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention and have illustrated a present preferred method of practicing the same in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the quench apparatus; and

FIGURE 2 is an isometric portion of the quench apparatus including the first and second spray pipes with the plate travelling within the restraining support rolls.

The apparatus comprises a plurality of upper and lower entry cylindrical rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16. A pair of high intensity spray pipes 18 and 20 are mounted between rolls 12 and 46 and between rolls 16 and 44 respectively. Each of the spray pipes 18 and 20 have a plurality of holes 26 and 28 longitudinally aligned and radially offset from the vertical axis of each spr-ay pipe toward the entry end 30 of the apparatus. Each of the spray pipes 18 and 20 have curved deflector plates 32 and 34 which are attached adjacent the aligned holes 26 and 28 respectively. The curved deflectors 32 and 34 extend from the spray pipes 18 and 20 toward the entry end 30 of the apparatus and curve toward the opposite spray pipes 20 and 18. The free end of each curved deflector plate 32 and 34 is positioned so that its free end is directed toward the other deflector 34 and 32 and toward the exit end 36 of the apparatus allowing space between the free end of each deflector 32 and 34 to permit the metal plate 38 to pass freely between. Spray pipes 18 and 20 are parallel and vertically alinged. The holes 26 and 28 are positioned so that they face the other spray pipes 20 and 18 respectively. The holes 26 and 28 and deflectors 32 and 34 are positioned such that quenching fluid leaves holes 26 and 28 and strikes the deflectors 32 and 34 respectively. This results in a high veleocity quench curtain which impinges the work 38 at angles 40 and 42 having a range between 10 and 40. The holes 26 and 28 and deflectors 32 and 34 are positioned so that the quench curtain impinges on the work 38 at a minimum distance from the entry rolls 12 and 16 and with a maximum distance between the point of impingement and the tired rolls 46 and 44. The purpose of this is to delay the first interruption of the quench fluid by the tires 48 and 50 and still maintain the required plate restraint for flatness. The quench fluid striking the deflectors 32 and 34 provides curtains of fluid which angul-arly impinge the work and prevents the quench fluid from reaching a part of the work 38 which has not advanced to the quench curtain impingement. The tired rolls 46 and 44 have a plurality of tires 48 and 50 respectively. The space between the tires permits quenching fluid to escape in the direction of the exit 36. The tired rolls 46 and 44 are followed by a subsequent pair of tired rolls 52 and 54 which have tires 56 and 58 respectively. A third set of tired rolls 60 and 62 follow tired rolls 52 and 54 and then the work 38 enters the lower intensity quench system disclosed in our patent application Ser. No. 370,554 referred to generally as 64. All of the tires on the rolls are staggered with respect to the preceding and succeeding rolls. All of the lower tires 50 and 8 are directly beneath in alignment with the upper tires 48 and 56. A second and third pair of spray pipes 66, 68, 70 and 72 are placed within the spaces between tired rolls 46, 52, 44, 54, 60 and 62. The spray pipes have a plurality of holes 74, 76, 78 and 80 which are positioned so that patterns 82, 84, 86 and 88 are produced which uniformly directs jets of quench fluid toward the plate surface between restraining rolls 46, 44, 52, 54, 60 and 62. Spray pipes 18 and 20 are supplied quench fluid through a range of pressure up to 160 psi. at headers 90 and 92 respectively and spray pipes 66, 68, 70 and 72 are supplied by headers 94 and 96. All of the cylindrical rolls and the tired rolls 10, 14, 12, 16, 44, 46, 52, 54, 60 and 62 are driven at the same speed by means of a sprocket and chain motor drive shown in our earlier patent application Ser. No. 370,554. All of the rollers 12, 18, 46, 52 and 60 rotate in the opposite direction as the rolls 14, 16, 44, 54 and 62. This is accomplished by the chain drive mechanism shown in FIGURE 4 in'our patent application Ser. No. 370,554. All of the rollers are journalled and supported by bearings as shown in our patent application Ser. No. 370,554. The upper rollers have a load 98 exerting a downward force which is transmitted to the work 3-8. Beams 100 support rolls 46, 44, 52, 54, 60 and 62. The upper frame 102 supports the support beams 100 and all of the upper rolls 10, 12, 46, 52 and 60 and spray pipes 18, 66 and 70.

The frame 102 is prepositioned until the top cylindrical rolls are positioned to restrain the work 38. The work 38 then leaves a furnace and engages an entry zone of the apparatus comprising restraining rolls 10, 12, 14 and 16. The work 38 passes between restraining support rolls 12, 16, 46, 44, 52, 54, 60 and 62. The quench fluid strikes deflectors 32 and 34 and then impinges the work 38 at point 104 at high velocity which sets the cooling temperature of the work. The quench fluid travels between the staggered tires 48, 50, 56 and 58 and follows the work which is restrained and supported by the tired rolls 46, 44, 52, 54, 60 and 62. The quench fluid from spray pipes 66, 68, 70 and 72 flow in patterns 82, 84, 86 and 88 maintaining the coo-led temperature reached at the impingement point 104. The work then travels into a low intensity quench system 64 disclosed in our application Ser. No. 370,554.

While we have shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention and have illustrated a preferred method of practicing the same, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but is variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus providing a continuous high intensity uniform quench of a metal plate which comprises:

(a) Means supporting and restraining the metal plate, forcing it to lie in a plane and moving it from a point of entry of the apparatus to an exit of the apparatus;

(b) A pair of high intensity spray pipes positioned within the means supporting and having their longitudinal axes parallel, the spray pipes are spaced apart and each has a plurality of closely spaced holes longitudinally aligned along the length of the spray pipe, the holes face the space between the spray pipes;

(c) A curved deflector attached to each spray pipe adjacent the holes and extending along the longitudinal axis of the spray pipe, the curved deflector extends from the spray pipe toward the entry end of the apparatus and curves toward the opposite spray pipe, each curved deflector is positioned so that its free end is directed toward the other deflector and toward the exit end of the apparatus so that a tangent to the tip of each deflector forms an angle of 10-40 with the metal plate surface, the free end of each deflector is also positioned so that the quench fluid leaving the free end initially impinges the metal plate at a minimum distance from the preceding supporting and restraining means; and

(d) means supplying an initial quenching fluid under pressure to each spray pipe, the fluid leaves the holes and strikes the deflector which causes a high velocity curtain of liquid to initially impinge on the metal plate at an angle preventing any splash back in the opposite direction from which the metal plate is entering the apparatus, the fluid is directed along the metal plate toward the exit end of the apparatus.

2. An apparatus providing a continuous high intensity uniform quench of a metal plate which comprises:

(a) means supporting and restraining the metal plate and forcing the plate to lie in a plane in an entry zone of the apparatus;

(b) a plurality of upper restraining tired rolls spaced apart in a planar parallel relationship following the means supporting;

(c) a plurality of lower restraining tired rolls spaced apart in a planar parallel relationship and having their tires and longitudinal axes aligned beneath the opposed upper restraining tired rolls following the means supporting whereby the metal plate passing between and in contact with the upper and lower restraining tired rolls is forced to lie in a plane;

(d) an upper high intensity spray pipe positioned between the means supporting and restraining and the upper restraining tired rolls, the spray pipe having a plurality of closely spaced holes longitudinally aligned along the length of the spray pipe;

(e) a lower high intensity spray pipe positioned between the means supporting and restraining and the lower restraining tired rolls, the lower high intensity spray pipe having its longitudinal axis parallel to the upper spray pipe and having closely spaced holes longitudinally aligned along the length of the lower spray pipe and facing the upper spray pipe;

(f) a curved deflector attached to each spray pipe adjacent the holes and extending along the longitudinal axis of the spray pipe, the curved deflector extends from the spray pipe toward the entry end of the apparatus and curves toward the opposite spray pipe, each curved deflector is positioned so that its free end is directed toward the other deflector and toward the exit end of the apparatus so that a tangent to the tip of each deflector forms an angle of 40 with the metal plate surface, the free end of each deflector is also positioned so that the quench fluid leaving the free end initially impinges the metal plate at a minimum distance from the preceding supporting and restraining means; and

(g) means supplying an initial quenching fluid under pressure to each spray pipe, the fluid leaves the holes and strikes the deflector which causes a high velocity curtain of liquid initially impringing on the metal plate at an angle preventing any splash back in the opposite direction from which the metal plate is entering the apparatus, the fluid is forced along the metal plate between the tired rolls to the exit end of the apparatus.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the tires of the lower restraining tired rolls are staggered with respect to each other and the tires of the upper restraining tired rolls are staggered with respect to each other.

4. An apparatus providing a continuous high intensity uniform quench of a metal plate which comprises:

(a) means supporting and restraining the metal plate and forcing the plate to lie in a plane in an entry zone of the apparatus;

(b) a plurality of upper restraining tired rolls spaced apart in a planar parallel relationship following the means supporting;

(c) a plurality of lower restraining tired rolls spaced apart in a planar parallel relationship and having their tires and longitudinal axes aligned beneath the opposed upper restraining tired rolls following the means supporting whereby the metal plate passing between and in contact with the upper and lower restraining tired rolls is forced to lie in a plane;

(d) a first upper high intensity spray pipe positioned between the means supporting and restraining and the upper restraining tired rolls, the spray pipe having a plurality of closely spaced holes longitudinally aligned along the length of the spray pipe;

(e) a first lower high intensity spray pipe positioned between the means supporting and restraining and the lower restraining tired rolls, the first lower high intensity spray pipe having its longitudinal axis parallel to the first upper spray pipe and having spaced holes longitudinally aligned along the length of the first lower spray pipe and facing the first upper spray p p (f) a curved deflector attached to each first upper and lower spray pipe adjacent the holes and extending along the longitudinal axis of the spray pipe, the curved deflector'extends from the spray pipe toward the entry end of the apparatus and curves toward the opposite spray pipe, each curved deflector is positioned so thatits free end is directed toward the other deflector and toward the exit end of the apparatus allowingspace between the free end of each deflector to permit the metal plate to pass freely through;

(g) a second upper spray pipe positioned within the first space between the upper restraining tired rolls, the second spray pipe having a plurality of closely spaced holes along the length of the second upper p y P p (h) a second lower spray pipe positioned within the first space between the lower restraining tired rolls,

the second lower spray pipe having a plurality of closely spaced holes along the length of the second lower spray pipe and facing the second upper spray pipe; and

(i) means supplying a quenching fluid under pressure to each spray pipe, the fluid leaves the holes in the first upper and lower spray pipes and strikes the deflectors which cause high velocity curtains of liquid to impinge on the top and bottom of the metal plate at an angle preventing any splash back in the opposite direction from which the metal plate is entering the apparatus, the fluid is forced along the metal plate between the tired rolls to the exit end of the apparatus.

5. An apparatus providing a continuous high intensity uniform quench of a metal plate which comprises:

(a) means supporting and restraining the metal plate and forcing the plate to lie in a plane in an entry zone of the apparatus;

(b) a plurality of upper restraining tired rolls spaced apart in a planar parallel relationship following the means supporting; v

(c) a plurality of lower restraining tired rolls spaced apart in a planar parallel relationship and having their tires and longitudinal axes aligned beneath-the opposed upper restraining tired rolls following the means supporting whereby the metal plate passing between and in contact with the upper and lower restraining tired rolls is forced to lie in a plane;

(d) a first upper high intensity spray pipe positioned between the means supporting and restraining and the upper restraining tired rolls, the spray pipe having a plurality of closely spaced holes longitudinally aligned along the length of the spray pipe;

(e) a first lower high intensity spray pipe positioned between the means supporting and restraining and the lower restraining tired rolls, the first lower high intensity spray pipe having in longitudinal axis parallel to the first upper spray pipe and having spaced holes longitudinally aligned along the length of the first lower spray pipe and facing the first upper spray (f) a curved deflector attached to each first upper and lower spray pipe adjacent the holes and extending along the longitudinal axis of the spray pipe, the curved deflector extends from the spray. pipe toward the entry end of the apparatus and curves toward the opposite spray pipe, each curved deflector is positioned so that its free end is directed toward the other deflector and toward the exit end of the apparatus allowing space between the free end of each deflector to permit the metal plate to pass freely through;

(g) a second upper spray pipe positionedwithin the first space between the upper restraining tired rolls, the second spray pipe having a plurality of closely spaced holes along the length of the second upper spray pipe which produces a fluid spray pattern which proximately reaches the points of contact between the metal plate and the preceding restraining tired roll so as to reduce dry spots on the metal plate;

(h) a second lower spray pipe positioned yvithin the first space between the lower restraining tired rolls, the second lower spray pipe having a plurality of closely spaced holes along the length of the second lower spray pipe and facing the second upper spray pipe which produces a fluid spray patter?! which proximately reaches the points of contact between the metal plate and the preceding restraining tired roll so as to reduce dry spots on the metal plate; and

(i) means supplying a quenching fluid under pressure to each spray pipe, the fluid leaves the holes in the first upper and lower spray pipes and strikes the deflectors which cause high velocity curtains of liquid to impinge on the top and bottom of the metal plate at an angle preventing any splash back in the opposite direction from which the metal plate is entering the apparatus, the fluid is forced along the metal plate between the tired rolls to the exit end of the apparatus.

6. Apparatus for quenching a heated metal plate which comprises:

(a) means moving the metal plate;

(b) a first means supporting and restraining the metal plate in a plane;

() a second means supporting and restraining the metal plate in the same plane; and

((1) means directing an initial curtain of quench fluid onto the top and bottom surfaces of the metal plate as it leaves the first means and away from the first means and toward the second means and producing a line of impingement of the curtain of quench fluid which is at a minimum distance from the first means and a maximum distance from the second means.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the first means comprises at least one rotatable cylindrical roll on each side of the metal plate arranged to engage a surface of the metal plate.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein the second means comprises at least one rotatable tired roll on each side of the metal plate arranged to engage the surface of the metal plate.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 including means adding additional quench fluid to maintain the cold plate surface established at the point of initial impingement of the quench curtains leaving the curved deflectors.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 including means adding additional quench fluid subsequent to the second means supporting and restraining so as to maintain the cold plate surface established at the point of initial impingement of the quench curtain.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the means directing an intial quench curtain directs the quench curtain at an angle of impingement with the metal plate of between 10 and References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,761,199 6/1930 Drake 198127 2,616,437 11/1952 S6001" 134-122 2,776,230 1/1957 Scott 148-156 2,871,529 2/1959 Kilpatrick 164283 2,900,992 8/1959 Johnson 134122 3,036,825 5/1962 Ei-senmenger 148-157 3,041,686 7/1962 Hazelett et al. 164-89 3,140,964 7/1964 Middlemiss 148-143 3,151,197 9/1964 Schultz 134122 3,208,742 9/ 1965 Peretick 266-3 3,367,804 2/1968 Teplitz 148-143 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

E. M. COMBS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFIQATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 5,420,083 January 7, 1969 Franklin C. Safford et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 60, "uniformity" should read uniformly Column 3, line 55, "All of the rollers" should read The upper rolls line 56, before "12" insert l0,

Signed and sealed this 17th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

